Super Sized Designs - as confirmed in my schematics exclusive, Kuo states Apple will launch a full iPhone X range this year. The 5.8-inch iPhone X will be joined by a 6.1-inch budget model and a new 6.5-inch iPhone X Plus.

Triple-Lens Cameras - I reported earlier this month that a close source insists the iPhone X Plus will have a triple camera and Kuo notes Apple is toying with introducing this. But a decision has not yet been made if it will come to market this year or be held over until 2019.

Significant Price Cuts - Kuo has already said he expects Apple to retreat from its $999 iPhone X pricing, but the real star is the budget iPhone X which he believes will cost only between $600-700. The 2017 iPhone X is expected to be ended as there will be no place to fit it into the price structure of the new line-up.

Feature Compromises - Kuo claims Apple has finalised the features it will cut from the budget iPhone X to achieve its price point. These will be: a cheaper LCD panel instead of OLED, removing 3D Touch from the display and using just a single rear camera.

Release Dates - Kuo says Apple will launch all three of its new iPhones in September and they will go on sale the same month. That said, he believes the 6.1-inch budget iPhone X will enter production late. So availability may be limited at first.

Exclusive 6.5-inch iPhone X Plus schematics

Ghostek, Gordon Kelly

Interestingly, Kuo also hints at “marked innovations” coming to the new iPhones. He doesn’t elaborate, but I suspect I know what one crowd pleaser will be.

He also believes Apple won’t get caught up in a US Vs China trade war because the company “plays an important role in both China and US economy” though he warns “It is worth monitoring whether Chinese consumers will reject buying Apple's products due to anti-American sentiment.”

As for challenges ahead, Kuo explains:

“In the high-end market, Apple's real competitor is itself, which implies that it needs to offer new models that appeal to consumers to boost replacement demands. We attribute the iPhone's slow growth in recent years to there being no significant replacement demands boosted by new models after the iPhone 6.”

Launching an entire range of iPhone X models in different sizes and three lower price points could well be the key to kick-starting this. Consequently, the only disappointment is the death of the much-hyped iPhone X Mini. Bigger isn’t always better…